just thinking, shouldn't taverns be alive? i didn't like in oblivion and morrowind the atmosphere of taverns; they were just boring. i want music and shouting and drunks hitting on waitresses. and it should have context, like some taverns will be more dangerous than others. maybe having to stay on guard in a tavern under the influence of a faction that doesn't like you, and some rough bars will be a recruiting station for mercenaries.

this video hits the nail on the head with what i'm trying to communicate...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtQgjyaJqkI

it would be AWESOME for these kind of scenarios to take place, and it would be more possible now than ever with the new radiant AI and what not.

oh and this doesn't just go for taverns. i think each shop, guild, inn, and blacksmith should have its own atmosphere depending on the context.
thoughts?

(by the way, i'm aware the video takes place in a different setting. i don't want guns just in case someone misinterprets)

The GI screenshot of the tavern looked pretty nice, and I agree that they can add lots of immersion. I hope the game randomly creates NPCs so it's never empty if people die though.

In the pic with the tavern I saw three people in that tavern alone, and it seemed just to be a small portion of it. The other faces were somewhat blurry however. The hair on the tavern lady looks a bit...solid right?

I think that may well be pretty close to what we get. More animations, more actions, more AI driven behavior. What better use to put all that to then a bustling Inn in the rugged North.

"Don't spill the big Nord's mead"

"Which one's the big one?"

Yeah, one bartender, one lady that appears to be sweeping, and the solid-haired Nord lady. It's probably during the day.

EDIT: And I hope not all the women are supermodels like that one...

Unlikely. She was chosen for the express purpose of proving there WERE good looking characters. They'll still ugly up the old hags and skooma junkies of the world.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE i pray that we can get drunk in TESV. Proper drunk too. All night benders if we choose with staggering and falling over. Not just a 30s pass out like red dead redemption

YES!!! I definitely feel you on this one. same with skooma/moon sugar hehehe

Hmmm don't think Bethesda will do that since they want to keep the rating at Teen (U.S)/ Mature (Australia) not saying they wouldn't but its not the most likely scenario

Maybe include bar fights and drinking games? :3

Didn't the magazine mention something about gore?

I have a feeling Skyrim will be mature, just from the feeling the article gave.

I know its taking a rather large step back, but I want the flavor text from arena to make a comeback. There's nothing like stomping the snow from your boots and getting a warm seat near the fire to really immerse ones-self.

Yeah, I think the game is going to have some gruesome gore, in a somewhat differing way from FO:3-NV. There copying alot of fallout, which is good, but there changing more.

I really hope skooma and moonsugar make you hallucinate.

I think this is a great idea. In fantasy settings, tavers are such a central object to quests, information etc. In DF you could walk into Inns/Taverns and get random quests. It would be nice to return Taverns being a nice/rewarding place to visit.

What makes you think they'll try to keep it teen? I'm guessing it will get an M since that's what FO3 and OB were. Not saying it can't be teen, I just find it unlikely.

Its based on the norse right. And isnt one of the theorie on the berserkers narcotic mushrooms. That might be a nice surprise ingame.